Fighting Resumes in Mali’s Kidal City

April 26, 2026

(FILES) Malian soldiers arrive in Kidal after a patrol from Gao on July 26, 2013 in northern Mali. The campaign for Mali's presidential election wrapped up Friday, two days ahead of a vote seen as vital for a return to peace in a country traumatised by political chaos and war. One hundred EU observers will visit five of the eight administrative regions of Mali on July 28 but will not go to the restive northern provinces of Timbuktu, Gao and Kidal, where tensions remain following a nine-month occupation by armed Islamists last year. AFP PHOTO / KENZO TRIBOUILLARD. Malian Tuareg rebels said they had taken the key northern city of Kidal from the army and Russian forces in an attack on April 25, 2026. AFP was not able to independently verify the claim, which was made as the country's ruling junta reported that the army was fighting off attacks across the country. Intense gunfire had been heard in Kidal earlier in the day. The Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) said in a facebook message that "the city of Kidal has passed under the control of our armed forces". (Photo by Kenzo TRIBOUILLARD / AFP)

Renewed fighting began on Sunday in the key northern city of Kidal, Mali, as Tuareg rebels and government forces, backed by Russian mercenaries, clashed again.

According to sources including Tuareg rebels and local politicians, the violence marks an ongoing struggle for control in the region, which has been ravaged by years of conflict.

This renewed fighting follows coordinated attacks on Saturday by an Al-Qaeda-linked jihadist group in partnership with Tuareg rebels. Together, they launched a major offensive against the Malian army, signalling a troubling escalation in an already volatile region.

The Tuareg rebels, part of the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) coalition, claimed responsibility for taking Kidal, which had been under rebel control for over a decade before being recaptured by the Malian army in November 2023, with the support of Russian mercenaries from the Wagner Group.

(FILES) An aerial image shows a general view of Gao, in Mali, on November 26, 2019. Gunfire rocked several districts of the junta-ruled West African country of Mali on April 25, 2026, including Kati, the home of military ruler General Assimi Goita, witnesses and a security source told AFP. Fighting was also heard in Gao, the main northern city, and Sevare in the centre. Mali has been battling more than a decade of jihadist conflict, and the military took power in two coups in 2020 and 2021. (Photo by Souleymane AG ANARA / AFP)

Mohamed Ramdane, a spokesman for the Tuareg rebels, stated, “Fighting resumed in Kidal this morning. We want to drive out the last Russian fighters who have taken refuge in a camp.” A local official corroborated this, confirming that the city witnessed fresh gunfire on Sunday between the Malian army, the Russian-backed forces, and the Tuareg rebels.

The FLA has also claimed positions in the northern Gao region, further complicating the security situation. The violence, which has left at least 16 soldiers and civilians wounded, is among the worst since the junta’s 2020 coup. The government, however, insists that the situation is under control in the affected areas, despite reports of widespread attacks across the Sahel.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the violence, expressing deep concern and calling for international support to address the growing threat of extremism and the urgent humanitarian needs in the region.

“The situation is totally under control in all the localities that were attacked,” the Malian government said, but the conflict shows no signs of abating.

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Tope Oke

Temitope is a storyteller driven by a passion for the intricate world of geopolitics, the raw beauty of wildlife, and the dynamic spirit of sports. As both a writer and editor, he excels at crafting insightful and impactful narratives that not only inform but also inspire and advocate for positive change. Through his work, he aims to shed light on complex issues, celebrate diverse perspectives, and encourage readers to engage with the world around them in a more meaningful way.